Sarah Hannah Freeth was the first child of William Freeth & Emma Standley born July-September 1859 at Smethwick, Staffs.
In 1861 Sarah & her parents & younger brother William were living at George St, West Bromwich.
By 1871 the family had moved to Oldbury Rd, Smethwick & Sarah now had 2 sisters & 3 brothers.
Sarah married Walter Harry Collins on February 8th,1880 at Harborne. Witnesses at the wedding were Sarah’s sister Georgina Freeth & William Freeth. Walter was christened April 19th, 1857 at Smethwick, the son of Selina Jane & Frederick Thomas Collins, a boiler fitter.
In 1881 Sarah & Walter were living at 30 Ballott St, Smethwick where Walter was a mechanical turner at the works. They had a daughter Laura, aged 1.
By 1891 Sarah & walter had moved to 44 Bampton Rd, Smethwick & Walter was now described as an iron turner. They had 5 children – Laura, William F (9), Nellie G (7), Walter H (5) & Edwin (4). In 1893 son Walter was admitted to Smethwick Central Board School with his address was given as 55 Bampton Rd. He left school in 1898. Brother Edwin attended the same school in 1895 when his address was 70 Windmill Lane. He left school in 1900.
Walter was still working as an iron turner in 1901 & the family were now living at 13 Corbett St, Smethwick. Children at home were William Frederick, a machine fitter, Nellie Georgina, Walter Harry, a machine fitter, Edwin, an office boy & Gladys Amy (2).
Sarah died, aged 43, in Oct-December 1902, her death being registered at West Bromwich. Earlier in 1902 daughter Laura had married Herbert Stoddard Coleman, a commercial traveller.
Walter died, aged 48, on February 8th, 1905, at 5 St Matthew’s Rd, Smethwick. Later in 1905 son Walter Harry & daughter Nellie Georgina emigrated to the United States. A landing card showed Walter landing in Pennsylvania & going to join his uncle, J Summerton, at Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. This was the husband of Georgina Freeth who had emigrated in 1882 & married James Summerton in 1883. In 1908 an emigration record shows Walter travelling from Canada again to join his uncle J Summerton. In 1910 Nellie returned to England arriving in Liverpool from Philadelphia.
Son Frederick William married Elizabeth Mary Halford in 1907 & at the time of the 1911 census they were living at 85 Regent St, Smethwick where Frederick was a gas engine fitter. With them was nephew Wilfred Austin (5), the son of Mary’s sister Alice Halford who had married Alfred Austin. Interestingly Frederick William’s sister Gladys Amy Collins was visiting Alfred & Alice Austin in Chesterfield, Derbyshire at the time of the 1911 census.
Son Edwin had married Annie Turton in 1909 & they were living at 38 Oakwood Rd, Smethwick in 1911. Edwin was a ledger clerk at a bamboo furniture manufacturers. By 1939 Edwin was living at 338 Rotten Park Rd, Birmingham & he was an exhaust? merchants shipping clerk. With him was daughter Gladys M, solder manufacturers, & son Sidney W, paint & brush manufacturers.
Daughter Laura & husband Herbert Coleman were living at 14 Dunsford Rd, Smethwick in 1911 with their 3 daughters & 2 sons.
The children of Sarah Hannah Freeth & Walter Harry Collins were:
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1.1 Laura Collins born April 5th, 1880 at Smethwick & christened June 2nd, 1881 at Smethwick; died May 19th, 1964 at West Heath Hospital, Birmingham
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1.2 Frederick William Collins born October 1881 & christened October 27th 1881 at Smethwickat Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1.3 Nellie Georgina Collins born April-June 1883 & christened June 7th 1883 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1.4 Walter Harry Collins born June 2nd 1885 & christened July 2nd, 1885 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1.5 Edwin Collins born December 10th, 1886 at Smethwick
fh.4.6.1.4.4.1.6 Gladys Amy Collins born July-September 1898 at Smethwick